With the inauguration of President Muhammadu Buhari done and dusted, this is all you need to know about him.
Major General Muhammadu Buhari (Rtd) was born on December 17, 1942, in the town of Daura in the former Katsina province in Northern Nigeria.
Major General Muhammadu Buhari (Rtd) was born on December 17, 1942, in the town of Daura in the former Katsina province in Northern Nigeria.
He went to Primary School in Daura and Mai’adua from 1948 – 1952, before proceeding to Katsina middle School in 1953. He attended the Katsina Provincial Secondary School (now Government College Katsina) from 1956 – 1961.
Upon graduation from secondary school in 1961, the young Buhari went to the Nigerian Military Training School, Kaduna in 1963.
In October of the same year, he was sent to the officers’ Cadet School in Aldershot in the United Kingdom and was thereafter commissioned second lieutenant in 1963 and posted to the 2nd Infantry Battalion, Abeokuta, as platoon commander in 1963.
A contemporary of his in Aldershot said the traits of a great soldier were identified in the young man. From 1963 – 1964 he was sent for further training on the platoon commanders’ course at the Nigerian Military College, Kaduna.
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In 1965, he went for the mechanical transport officers’ course and the commanders’ course at the Nigerian Military College, Kaduna. He attended the United States Army War College from June 1979 to June 1980.
Buhari held several impressive command and staff appointments after 1963, including the following:
Platoon Commander, 2nd Infantry Battalion, 1963 – 1964. Mechanical Transport Officer, Lagos Garrison, 1964 – 1965 Transport Company Commander.
2nd Infantry Brigade 1965 – 1966; Battalion Adjutant / Commander, 2nd Infantry Brigade 1966 – 1967; Brigade Major, 2nd Sector, 1st Infantry Division, April to July 1967; Brigade Major, 3rd Infantry Brigade, August 1967 – October 1968; Acting Commander, 4th Sector, 1st Division November 1968 – February 1970; Commander, 31st Infantry Brigade, 1st Infantry Division, February 1970 – June 1971; Assistant Adjutant-General, 1st Infantry Division Hqrs., July 1971 – Dec. 1972; Colonel, General Staff, 3rd Infantry Div. Hqrs. Jan. 1974 – Sept. 1974.
Acting Director, Supply and Transport, Nigeria Army Corps of supply and Transport, September 1974 – July 1975; Military Governor, North Eastern State of Nigeria, August 1975 – March 1976; Federal Commissioner for Petroleum Resources, March 1976 to June 1978.
Chairman, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, June 1978 – July 1978; Military Secretary, Army Headquarters July 1978 – June 1979; Member Supreme Military Council, March 1976 – June 1979; General Officer Commanding, 4th Infantry Division, Aug. 1980 – Jan. 1981.
General Officer Commanding, 2nd Mechanised Infantry Division, Jan. 1981 – October 1981; General Officer Commanding 3rd Armed Division Nigerian Army, October 1981 – December 1983. Head of State and Commander-in-Chief of the Nigerian Armed Forces, December 1983 – August 1985.
Good education, military training, nature, character, experience and a proven record are the foundations upon which the exemplary leadership of this remarkable man is built.
These are the qualities General Muhammadu Buhari is bringing to the future of Nigeria.
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In recognition of his numerous and enviable contributions towards the development of this country, General Buhari has been conferred with a number of national awards. He is the recipient of the following:
GCFR Grand Commander of the Federal Republic CFR Commander of the Federal Republic DSM Defence Service Medal NSM National Service Medal GSM General Service Medal LSGCM Loyal Service and Good Conduct Medal FSS Force Service Staff CD The Congo Medal.
It was during his tenure that the Nigerian National Oil Corporation and the Ministry of Petroleum Resources were reorganized to form the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), and he became its first chairman, a job he performed without blemish.
He masterminded and spearheaded the construction of 20 oil depots throughout the country, a project involving over 3200 kilometres of pipelines.
Under his leadership both Warri and Kaduna Refineries were built. He drew up the blueprint for the country’s petro-chemical and liquefied natural gas programmes all without even a hint of scandal.
Today, Nigerians recall with nostalgia the probity, accountability and honesty and above all thorough and efficient management of public funds demonstrated by the leadership of General Muhammadu Buhari in all public institutions he worked.
Having endeared himself to the masses, General Muhammadu Buhari is first a family man. He is married to Aisha Buhari and they have eight children.
Buhari won the 2015 presidential elections with 15,424,921 votes to Jonathan 12,853,162
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